Hainan Airlines has shifted its non-stop Vancouver service from Tianjin to Shenzhen, becoming the first airline to serve Canada from the Chinese metropolis.

Twice-weekly service begins January 28. It replaces service that connected Vancouver with Shenzhen, but with a stop in Tianjin in each direction. It has operated the route since May 25.

Shenzhen is at city of more than 12 million people at the heart of a powerhouse manufacturing region, and on the doorstep to Hong Kong.

In Canada, Hainan also serves Calgary and Toronto from Beijing.

The airline will use Boeing 787-900 Dreamliners on the route, operating flights as a code-share service with Westjet.

Competition is heating up on flights to China, with Air Canada officials sitting down for the first time with Air China representatives earlier this month in Vancouver to plan joint marketing activities.